About Estate Life
Founded in 2004 as Exclusive Venue by Joanna Goddard, a business development specialist, our company diversified and was re-branded in 2007 as Estate Life.
Estate Life provides services for landowners, family businesses, factors, trustees and managers to research, establish and develop commercial projects on rural estates. We are a private company based in Scotland and work with estates throughout the UK and Europe. We encourage collaboration between estates and their local communities as well as share best practice amongst owners through the Estate Life Network.
In 2008 Estate Life became an advisor to Channel 4′s Country House Rescue conducting the series research, sourcing locations and featured in the Chesters Estate episode.
Often approached for expert comment or as a location resource we have regularly featured in the media. See examples here
Our own journey has been one of steady growth. We have celebrated milestones and yet we have faced tough challenges along the way. Therefore, whilst we bring you our commercial expertise and successful track record to inspire, advise and support delivery of commercial projects on your estate, we can also identify and empathise with the frustrations and challenges running a business brings.
In 2011 Susan Reid, a specialist in sales and marketing of historic properties, became Co-Owner of Estate Life.
Susan now leads our expert and award winning team of professionals who are skilled and highly experienced in their fields including, exclusive use venues, business development, retail, business tourism, outdoor activities, architecture, sales and marketing. Our team are passionate about delivering results for our clients as our business is built almost entirely on our reputation.
We provide toolkits and project support to estate owners wishing to research, trial or deliver commercial projects on their estate. We conduct site visits by appointment and provide analysis and detailed strategies.
“Estate Life provided us with thier invaluable help and expertise both on and off screen. Joanna, and her team, are intelligent, friendly and helpful; they go the extra mile to ensure that you get everything you need and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Estate Life to others.”
Sarah Freethy, Producer, for Country House Rescue at Betty TV
A little more about our owners:
Susan Reid, Director & Owner
Following 12 years experience in the Hotel Industry Susan established her own business and launched The Reid Collection, Scotland in November 2003. The Collection is of privately owned properties offering a sample of some of the best in Scottish service, quality and hospitality. Since 2003 Susan has delivered cost effective campaigns and pro active sales activity to increase the profile and bookings for the properties in the collection.
Very different from a Consultancy or a PR company in the respect that Susan takes on a pro active sales role which is quite unique in the market place and was one of its first to be launched. This allows her to offer the professional skills and knowledge she gained from larger organisations and assist in the promotion purely of privately owned properties, ensuring their awareness is strong in the corporate, leisure and incentive market place.
Susan has a recommended and valued supplier to Estate Life clients since 2006.
In 2011 she was delighted to become a Director and Co Owner of Estate Life. This ensures more properties benefit greatly from the extensive client base she works with Worldwide and the professional knowledge and expertise she has in sales & marketing for private properties.
Joanna Goddard, Founder & Owner
Joanna was a Retail, and then Project Manager, for commercial success stories John Lewis Partnership and Arcadia Group working throughout the UK. She experienced her first fusion of commerciality and historic buildings when she became Project Manager on the landmark transformation of Top Shop’s flagship store in London – The World’s Largest Fashion Store.
Upon returning to Scotland in 1998 she lead a regeneration company; breathing new life into a rural town. During that time she worked closely with a number of landowners to establish farmers markets and from there, in 2004, the beginnings of what is now Estate Life was born.
Joanna has since gone on to advise a number of organisations including charitable, public and private sector clients and organisations including Channel 4, City of Edinburgh Council, private rural landowners, Baxi Partnership, family businesses, Standard Life Bank and Morton Fraser Solicitors.
Joanna is now a Non Executive Director of Estate Life.
